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Study Name
Study of Abstinence-Contingent Wage Supplements for Alcohol Use
Study Sharepoint ID
101084
Evaluation name
Abstinence-Contingent Wage Supplements for Adults Experiencing Homelessness and Alcohol Use Disorder
Intervention (standard name)
Abstinence-Contingent Wage Supplements for Alcohol Use
Strength of Evidence Tag
Low
Reason for the Rating

This study received a low study quality rating because it is a high-attrition randomized controlled trial that does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the intervention and comparison groups.

This study received a low study quality rating because it is a high-attrition randomized controlled trial that does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the intervention and comparison groups.

Design
Randomized controlled trial
Services
Case management
Job readiness
Job search assistance
Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives
Populations targeted
At least a high school diploma or equivalent
Unemployed
Homelessness
Substance use disorder
Settings in which the intervention was studied
Urban only

Subgroups

Subgroup data - Female
No
Subgroup data - Male
No
Subgroup data - White
No
Subgroup data - Black
No
Percent substance dependent
100.00
Percent homeless
100.00
Percent female
15.10
Percent Male
84.90
Percent With a high school diploma or GED
82.90
Percent Employed
7.60
Percent Unemployed
92.40
Percent Black or African American
36.10
Percent Hispanic or Latino of any race
3.40
Percent American Indian or Alaska Native
0.80
Percent Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0.80
Percent White
61.30
Percent another race
0.80
Percent Tribal/Native American
0.80
Mean age
39.40
Group formation formatted
After a one-month induction period where participants were introducted to workplace contingencies, participants who had contacted research staff for at least half of the workdays in the final 3 weeks of the induction period were randomly assigned to either the abstinence-contingent wage supplement group or to a usual care control group. Participants were recruited from treatment clinics and recovery houses serving adults with alcohol use disorder, online job boards, and participant referrals.
Study timing formatted

Four years

Study funding formatted

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under grants R01AA024101 and T32DA07209.

Sample Characteristics

Adults experiencing homelessness who have an alcohol use disorder.

Implementing organization formatted

Not specified.

Program history

Pilot program, arrangement of Therapeutic Workplace

Treatment condition formatted

The intervention group was offered abstinence-contingent wage supplements for up to 6 months while also wearning a transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) wearable biosensor monitoring device. While unemployed, participants could earn a wage of $10 per hour for up to 20 hours per week for engaging with an employment specialist and engaging in job-seeking behaviors. While employed, participants could earn wage supplements for all verified hours worked in a community job (up to $8 per hour for up to 40 hours per week). If a participant's TAC indicated alcohol use, base pay for the wage supplement was reset to $1 per hour and could then increase by $1 per hour for each day the participant both maintained abstinence and worked for at least 5 minutes.

Comparison condition formatted

Participants in the comparison group received usual care.

Mandatory services formatted

None

Timing of study formatted

Up to six months

Program funding formatted

Not specified.

Setting details formatted

Baltimore, Maryland

Secondary domains examined

Alcohol abstinence, Number of alcohol drinking days in past 30 days, Out of poverty, Housed

Earliest publication year
2023
Most recent publication year
2023
Manuscripts
101084_01_Novak
Check edits flag
No
Primary Service
Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives
Services Unclear
This field is populated using a formula. Do not manually edit.
Enrollment Period
January 2019 to May 2022 (with a pause from March to October 2020).
Intervention Duration
6.00
Subgroup data - Hispanic
No
State & Region
Maryland